Up to 37pc of students investigated for academic misconduct at one Irish university were suspected of having used AI technology to try and gain advantage in exams. Statistics show University of Galway punished 49 students for using AI to cheat in 2023/2024. However, the university is one of only a few to actually collect AI cheating data, according to Freedom of Information requests.
Galway’s statistics show how AI is now being used by some students in universities to try to gain an edge in exams. But without further evidence, Ireland lacks a concise analysis of how many students are using tech to get higher marks than their classmates. The University of Galway said that from January 1 this year, until July 31, there had been 129 students who had been the “subject of investigation” under academic misconduct rules.
Of 129 students investigated, 51 were investigated under the policy for “unauthorised use of artificial intelligence”. Of these 51 students, 49 received an academic penalty, the university explained in an FoI response. This led to 18 students repeating and resubmitting assessment tasks, 13 gaining zero marks for an assessment, and 11 having to resubmit work.
Others had marks reduced or were suspended from the programme or university for a semester, with an automatic right of return. But others interestingly, received no penalty. Out of the cohort investigated, 78 students – 60pc – were investigated for non-AI cheating.
All of these students receive.
